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McEvoy shocked by Dettori's Godolphin split

KERRIN MCEVOY, Godolphin's number two rider behind Frankie Dettori for five years, has spoken of his surprise at learning the news that his old sparring partner was leaving the Dubai team.

"It's a real shame him and Godolphin are parting ways - it's a little sad in a way," said McEvoy, now retained rider for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley team in Australia.

"He's been a fantastic rider over the years and he has ridden 110 Group 1 winners for them so it's been a great partnership. Hopefully he can continue to ride winners, I'm sure he will."

McEvoy was speaking after putting his potential Melbourne Cup mount, Lost In The Moment, through his paces alongside Saeed Bin Suroor-trained stablemate Cavalryman, set to become Dettori's final Group 1 ride as Godolphin's retained rider.

"It's a shame he has never got to win a Melbourne Cup for Godolphin," added McEvoy. "He was a real model for me over there. But I also remember how open he was and how he welcomed me into his private family life. He really brought me into the team - we spoke about the different tracks and horses day in and day out. He would fill me in on everything."

McEvoy is still sweating on a Cup run for Lost In The Moment, only 26th in the order of entry, which has a 24-runner cut-off point. He is likely to be pushed further down the order on Saturday at Flemington with the winners of the Mackinnon Stakes and Lexus Stakes both gaining ballot exemptions.

"Hopefully we can get a run in the Cup but it is pretty much a matter of wait and hope," said McEvoy, who won in 2000 with Brew.

"He's been running well without winning. He needs to bring his A-game but he is a horse that excels over two miles and ran sixth last year. It's one of the best fields I've seen but if he gets any luck he will be a top six chance again."